By Ina Fried, 16 June 2008 16:31
NEWS
After a long-announced transition, 30 June marks the end of an era at Microsoft. Well, really it's the end of two eras.
Not only does the date mark the departure of Bill Gates but another epoch is also really coming to an end - that of Windows XP.
As of 30 June, large PC makers will no longer be able to sell Windows XP-based PCs, at least on mainstream laptops and desktops. Retailers will also have only until their current supply is exhausted to sell boxed copies of the operating system.
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Despite a brief "save XP" movement (and continued criticism of Windows Vista from many corners), it appears Microsoft is not going to change the deadline, which is now just two weeks away.
Although XP will disappear as an option for most computer buyers, the operating system will live on in several key ways.
XP will be available on PCs from smaller computer makers known as "system builders" until 31 January 2009 and for so-called ultra-low-cost-PCs until 30 June, 2010.
The low-end Windows XP Starter Edition will continue to be available in emerging markets until 30 June 2010.
Windows Vista Ultimate and Windows Vista Business come with downgrade rights. Some computer makers are using this option to offer machines that appear as Windows XP products but are "factory downgraded" to XP. The downside is that only pricier versions of Vista qualify but the benefit is that the machines come with the option to eventually move to Vista for no added fee. Microsoft says it will continue to make XP discs available to computer makers to enable downgrade rights through to at least January 31 2009.
Microsoft is not ending support for Windows XP. Mainstream support continues until 2009, while extended support is not due to end until April 2014.
A spokesperson for HP said: "All of HP's latest consumer and business computing products currently ship with Windows Vista. But we do still offer XP on a select number of our existing consumer notebook, gaming and business products. This will continue through the XP end-of-life date on June 30 2008.
"HP has been offering business desktops, notebooks and workstations with the option to downgrade to Windows XP Pro from Vista since August 2007, and will continue to offer this option on its business systems through at least July 30 2009. These systems are pre-installed with XP Pro, and the customer receives the Vista licence so that they can upgrade to the new OS when they are ready, as well as Restore discs for both operating systems. After June 30, if a customer already has the XP image and licence, HP also can also install that customer's image on their Vista Business systems through our HP PC Customisation Services."
A spokesperson for Lenovo said: "In line with our agreement with Microsoft, Lenovo will not offer any PC's preloaded with XP after June 30 2008. Lenovo offers select Vista models that ship with a downgrade XP CD in the box. Microsoft will allow us to continue putting these downgrade CDs in the box until January 31 2009. However, the majority of PCs we ship don't have the downgrade CD in the box. If a customer purchases a Vista system and wishes to downgrade and doesn't have the CD, they can contact our Help Center to get an XP downgrade CD."
CNET News.com's Erica Ogg contributed to this report.
Comments
There are 8 comments. Join the discussion
1. Witheld
The MoD has only just updated to XP from 2000 where I work.
2. Nico Mo
One should have noticed the ever increasing number of Linux installed laptops, notebooks and desktop computers now available.
Now Here's the Choice :
1. Buy a Vista empowered Notebook, laptop or desktop
2. Buy a Linux empowered same spec(for Vista) Notebook, laptop or desktop.
No difference except that the best price and performance can only be achieved with option 2.
{PS I have XP Pro on my Laptop and Fedora FC9 on my home Desktop and access to a Mac Pro at work}
3. Philip Thomas
Well, sod them. I am off to an Apple Mac and if necessary will pay for my files to be converted. How dare they impose on us what OS we can use. XP has proved to be exceedingly stable (except when Microsoft launched Service Pack 2 which totally messed up my computer and lost all my files).
Does the name Microsoft reflect the brain power of the decision makers in that company? Windows 3.1 was the very best O.S. they ever produced.
I would like to say it surprises me that they have done this, but it doesn't. XP is perfectly fit for purpose and did not need to be withdrawn. My prime gripe is the stupid growth in the size of files brought on by the new O.S. Back in Windows 1.1 (yes, I am an old fart) a complete letter written in the predecessor to Word occupied about 1K of storage. Now, if I type "Dear" not only do I get that stupid paper-clip asking if it can help me write a letter (and it cannot) but if I save just the word "Dear" it occupies 20kb. Why? Will the new Vista use even more and more storage space as new versions proliferate? Join me in the exodus to Apple Mac. they are far better machines and even look better and anyway, Microsoft needs to learn another lesson as we all decamp.
4. Matt H
I'd be interested to see the fall in number of new PC sales after this date has passed. I can't believe they're being so draconian about Vista. If the people don't want it, then they're not going to buy it! When will they listen to their fleeing customers?!
5. Lionel A Smith
Well it looks like Linux or Mac in the future for me.
Having got working XP systems, not without headaches after updates, I have larger format printer and scanner equipment which will not have drivers after all XP left my Stylus 800 Inkjet with only a cut down driver despite being still fully functional and I am not about to repeat that experience.
Shame, I did like the Flight Sim but I can live without that.
Micrsoft having shot themselves in both feet seem to be going for the knees now.
6. GALLEY SLAVE#41
It will be like losing an old friend!
7. Jeremy Wickins
I know there are those that say that this is just the usual whining from people who don't like to change, and that the same thing happened when Microsoft went from Win 95/98 to XP, but I think they are wrong. There is a significant difference in the tone of the complaints. XP works - it is a good OS, admittedly with a few problems. It has legacy capability, it is reasonably intuitive, and it emulates the previous versions sufficiently that there was no dramatic learning curve. Vista seems to have little or no legacy capability, requiring new hardware for no good reason, and (from what I've seen) it requires a total relearn of how to use the system, all with no noticeable advantage to the user. It takes more space, more RAM, and runs slower - why would anyone bother? I'm up for a new notebook, and it will probably be an EEE with Linux, then wait until XP is no longer supported and go to Linux with all my boxes (sorry, Mac fans, I just can't buy into the image thing associated with those products).
8. Nigel Cummings
I lament the passing of XP, having recently bought a Vista equipped Laptop, I wish MSoft would listen to its customer base and merely continue to improve XP.
Pound for pound XP offers greater performance and at lower cost than Vista equipped PCs.
I dislike intensely, the fact that much of the software I use on a regular basis with XP, runs slowly, erratically or not at all with Vista, thus to maintain functionality, I have to buy upgraded or alternative software applications at considerable cost.
I think the next PC and/or laptop solutions I will be looking at, will run LINUX and Open Source material, as I do not intend to waste any more money retaining compatibility with MSoft products.